What is a METAR you may ask? How do I read one? A METAR is an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR). It is a surface weather observation in the terminal area of the airport used to inform pilots of the local weather phenomena. It is generally published hourly, usually 55 or 56 minutes past the hour, and contains the following information:
Winds shown on a METAR, TAF, winds aloft table, or surface analysis chart are represented in true headings, whereas winds represented through an ATIS, AWOS/ASOS, or PIREP are in magnetic headings. A useful adage is that “If you read it, it must be true. If you hear it, it’s magnetic.”
- Type of Report
- Station identifier
- Date and time of report
- Report modifier (As required)
- Wind
- Visibility
- Present Weather Group
- Sky Condition
- Temperature/Dewpoint
- Altimeter
- Remarks
- Automated, Manual, and Plain Language Remarks
- Sensor Status Indicators
How to find the METAR:
Go to https://www.aviationweather.gov/metar and select the airport you’re flying out of.
An example of a METAR can be seen below:
1. Type of Report (METAR)
As seen here, METAR is the type of report. This indicator precedes the body of all reports, but may not be shown or displayed on all aviation weather sites. There are two types of reports - a METAR or a SPECI. A METAR is the scheduled observation usually 55-56 minutes past the hour. A SPECI is a report that is given between the usual intervals of the METAR that contain significant weather changes such as major thunderstorms or tornadoes.
2. Station Identifier (KPSM)
The station identifier is shown in ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) format and is included in all reports to identify the station to which the code report applies. KPSM is the airport code for Portsmouth, NH.
3. Date and Time (161556Z)
The date and time are coded in all reports in the following format:
The day of the month in the first two digits (16); followed by the hour (15); and the minutes (56) in UTC or “Zulu” (Z) time.
16 (16th day of the month)
1556Z (15:56 UTC)
4. Report Modifier (AUTO)
This identifies the METAR/SPECI as a fully-automated report with no human intervention or oversight. In this case, the report was fully-automated. In the event of a corrected report, you will see “COR” instead of “AUTO.”
5. Wind (09008G12KT)
The wind information is grouped into three categories: wind direction (degrees); wind speed (knots), and wind gusts (knots).
Wind direction - coded as the first three digits (090), determined by averaging the recorded wind direction over a 2-minute period. It is coded as tens of degrees relative to true north. Directions less than 100 degrees are preceded with a 0. For example, a wind direction of 90 degrees is coded as 090. A wind from the north is coded as 360.
09008G12KT (090 is the wind direction)
Wind direction may be considered variable when, during the previous 2-minute evaluation period, the wind speed was 6kts or less. In this case the wind may be coded as VRB in place of the three-digit wind direction.
Wind speed - coded as two or three digits (08) immediately follows the wind direction. Wind speed is determined by averaging the speed over a 2-minute period and is coded in whole knots (kts). If wind speed is less than 10 kts, a leading 0 is used to maintain a two-digit wind code format, like in this example.
09008G12KT (08 is the wind speed in knots)
If no motion of air is detected, the air is reported as “calm.” A calm wind is displayed like “00000KT.”
Wind gusts - coded in two or three digits following the wind speed. The “G” signifies that there are wind gusts, and the number value signifies the speed of wind gusts in knots (“KT”).
09008G12KT (wind gusts at 12 knots)
6. Visibility (10SM)
Visibility is coded as the surface visibility in statute miles. The visibility group ends with “SM” to reference statute miles.
10SM = 10 statute miles of visibility
You may also see visibility look something like...
1 1/2SM = 1 and a ½ statute miles of visibility
(here, the space separates whole number from a fraction)
M1/4SM = less than ¼ statute miles of visibility
(here, the preceding “M” means “less than”)
7. Present Weather (+RA)
Present weather includes precipitation, obscurations and other weather phenomena. See table 3-2 below for weather codes.
In this case, +RA = heavy rain.
8. Sky condition (BKN050)
This is a description of the sky’s appearance. It includes either cloud cover, vertical visibility, or clear skies. The first three letters characterize the clouds with amount of cloud coverage (BKN) which means “broken clouds.” The numbers describe the base of the clouds in hundreds of feet.
BKN050 = broken clouds at 5000’
Vertical visibility (VV) is the distance seen from the ground up. You will find vertical visibility listed when it’s rather foggy and difficult to see the base of the “cloud.”
The ceiling is 500 ft in both examples, but the indefinite ceiling example (bottom) produces a more adverse impact to landing aircraft. This is because an obscuration (e.g. fog, blowing dust, snow) limits runway acquisition due to reduced slant range visibility. This pilot would be able to see the ground, but not the runway. If the pilot was at approach minimums, the approach could not be continued and a missed approach must be executed.
9. Temperature / Dewpoint (16/06)
These numbers describe the temperature and dew point in degrees Celsius.
Temperature is the first number (16) and is the degree of hotness or coldness of the ambient air, as measured by a suitable instrument.
Dewpoint is the second number (06) and is the temperature to which a given parcel of air must be cooled at constant pressure and constant water vapor content for the air to become fully saturated.
Temperature and dewpoint are displayed as two digits, rounded to the nearest whole degree Celsius. If the number is less than 10, a zero is placed before the temperature number to maintain a two digit number. Sub-zero temperatures and dewpoints are prefixed with an M.
16/06 (16 is the temperature in degrees Celsius)
16/06 (06 is the dew point in degrees Celsius)
10. Altimeter (A2980)
This is the altimeter setting group, which codes the current pressure at elevation. This setting is used by aircraft altimeters to determine true altitude above a fixed plane of mean sea level (MSL). The altimeter always starts with an “A” and is followed by the four-digit group representing the pressure in tens, units, tenths, hundredths of inches of mercury. Decimal point is not coded.
11. Remarks (RMK)
Remarks are separated from the body of the report by the contraction “RMK.” When no remarks are necessary, RMK is not required. There are many different types of remarks, however this article will review more of the common remarks seen.
11.1. Type of Automated Station (AO2A)
There are two types of automated stations - AO1 or AO2. AO2 is an automated station which has a precipitation discriminator, meaning it allows differentiation of precipitation (snow, hail, rain, etc.). AO1 is an automated station which does not have a precipitation discriminator, therefore it cannot distinguish types of precipitation.
In this case, the automated station (AO2A) has a precipitation discriminator and identified the precipitation as rain.
11.2. Sea Level Pressure (SLP132)
At designated stations, sea level pressure is coded in the following format:
SLP as the identifier, immediately followed by sea level pressure in millibars.
The hundreds and thousands units are not coded and must be inferred.
SLP132 = sea level pressure
SLP132 = 1,013.2 mb
More examples:
A sea level pressure of 998.2 mb is coded as SLP982
A sea level pressure of 1,013.2 mb is coded as SLP132.
11.3. Hourly Temperature and Dewpoint (T01561055)
At specific stations, the hourly temperature and dewpoint group are further coded to the tenth of a degree Celcius. This code starts with “T” followed by a series of eight numbers, the first being temperature, and the last four being the dewpoint. The first number may be a 1 or a 0. A 1 indicates the temperature or dewpoint is negative whereas a 0 indicates the temperature or dewpoint is positive. The following two numbers is the whole degree of either the temperature (15) or dewpoint (05). The last number of the four digits is the tenth of degree (Temperature 6 and dewpoint 5).
T01561055 would be read as “The temperature is positive 15.6 degrees Celsius and the Dewpoint is negative 5.5 degress Celsius.
12. Maintenance Indicator ($)
This is coded when automated systems detect that maintenance is needed on the system.
METAR and TAF Weather Reports
| Weather Identifiers: |
|
|
|
B - Began
BC Patches
BL Blowing
BR Mist >=5/8
DR Low Drifting
DS Dust storm
DU Dust
DZ Drizzle
E - Ended
| FC, +FC Funnel Cloud,
Well-Developed Funnel Cloud
Tornado or Waterspout
FG Fog
FU Smoke
FZ Freezing
GR Hail (>5mm)
GS Small Hail / Snow
Pellets (<5mm)
| HZ Haze
IC Ice Crystals
MI Shallow
PL Ice Pellets
PO Well-Developed Dust/Sand Whirls
PR Partial
PY Spray
RA Rain
| SA Sand
SG Snow Grains
SH Showers
SN Snow
SQ Squalls Moderate
SS Sandstorm
TS Thunderstorm
UP Unknown Precipitation
VA Volcanic Ash
VC In the Vicinity |
Modifiers: - Light + Heavy P More than M Less than B Began E Ended
|
| Sky Conditions: |
|
|
|
BKN – Broken cloud layer 5/8ths to 7/8ths
CB – Cumulonimbus
CLR – Sky clear at or below 12,000AGL
FEW – Few cloud layer 0/8ths to 2/8ths
| OVC – Overcast cloud layer 8/8ths coverage
SCT – Scattered cloud layer 3/8ths to 4/8ths
SKC – Sky Clear
TCU – Towering Cumulus |
| Other: |
|
|
|
A01 – Automated Observation without precipitation discrimination
A02 – Automated Observation with precipitation discrimination
A3000 – Altimeter setting 30.00”
AMD – Amended forecast
AUTO – without human editing
BECMG – Becoming… BECMG 0002 = becoming 00 to 02 Zulu
CAVU – Ceiling and visibility unlimited
COR – Correction
DSNT – Distant weather phenomenon
FM – From… FM0200 = from 0200 Zulu
FROPA – Frontal Passage
LTG – Lightning
LDG – Landing
M – Minus, below zero, “less than”
NO – Not available
NSW – No significant weather
P6SM – Plus 6 Statute Miles, greater than, “more than”
PK WND – Peak Wind
PRESFR/PRESRR – Pressure Falling or Rising Rapidly
| PROB40 – Probability of 40%
R04 – Runway 4
RMK – Remarks
RWY – Runway
RVRNO – Runway Visual Range not available
SFC VIS – Surface Visibility
SLP – Sea Level Pressure, add 10 to numbers given
SLPNO – Sea Level Pressure not available
SM – Statute miles
SPECI – Special Report
TEMPO – Temporarily… TEMPO 0002 = Temporarily 00 to 02 Zulu
T02560179 – Temperature 25.6 dew point 17.9
TWR VIS – Tower Visibility
V – Varying
VIRGA – Virga
VRB – Variable
VRB VIS – Variable Visibility
VV – Vertical Visibility, indefinite ceiling
WS – Wind shear
WSHFT - Wind shift |
Encoded Groups:
|
1sTTT – 6-hourly maximum temperature. 10183 = +18.3 C
2sTTT – 6-hourly minimum temperature. 20144 = +14.4 C
4sXXXsNNN – 24-hour max and min temp. 401001015 = +10.0 to -1.5
4/SSS – Snow depth in inches. 4/021 = 21 inches on ground.
5aPPP – 3-hourly pressure tendency. PPP=tenths hPa change; a=code:
4=steady 0123=increasing 5678=decreasing; higher#=faster recently
6RRRR – Hundredths of inches of rain in past 3 or 6 hours
7RRRR – Hundredths of inches of rain in past 24 hours (1200Z report)
8/LMH – Cloud types in low, middle, high layers. /=above overcast
3=dense cirrus; 6=stratus; 9=CB.
933RRR – Water equiv. of snow on ground in tenths. 933036 = 3.6in.
98mmm – Minutes of sunshine previous calendar day (0800Z report).
| 1sTTT –
|
Back to Flight Briefing Links
Area Forecast Weather ReportsA
AAF - Army Air Field
AAL - above aerodrome level
AATM - at all times
ABD – aboard
ABNDT - abundant
ABNML - abnormal
ABT - about
ABV - above
AC - altocumulus
ACARS - Aircraft communication addressing & reporting system
ACCUM - accumulate
ACFT - aircraft
ACK - acknowledge
ACL - altimeter check location
ACLD - above clouds
ACLT - accelerate
ACPT - accept
ACR - air carrier
ACRBT - acrobatic
ACRS - across
ACSL - standing lenticular altocumulus
ACT - active or activated or activity
ACTG - acting
ACTV - active
ACTVT - activate
ACYC - anticyclonic
ADA - advisory area
ADDN - addition
ADF - automatic direction finder
ADIZ - air defense identification zone
ADJ - adjacent
ADQT - adequate
ADRNDCK - adirondack
ADV - advise
ADVCTN - advection
ADVN - advance
ADVY - advisory
ADVZY - advisory
AFB - Air Force Base
AFCT - affect
AFD - Airport/Facility Directory
AFDK - after dark
AFSS - Automated Flight Service Station
AFT - after
AFTN - afternoon
AGL - above ground level
AHD - ahead
AIM - Aeronautical Information Manual
AIRMET - Airmen's Meteorological Information
ALF - aloft
ALG - along
ALGHNY - Allegheny
ALNMT - alignment
ALQDS - all quadrants
ALS - approach light system
ALSEC - all sectors
ALSF-1 - standard 2400' high-intensity approach lighting system with sequenced flashers (Category I configuration)
ALSF-2 - standard 2400' high-intensity approach lighting system with sequenced flashers (Category II configuration)
ALSTG - altimeter setting
ALT - altitude
ALTA - Alberta
ALTM - altimeter
ALTN - alternate
ALUTN - Aleutian
AM - ante meridiem
AMS - air mass
AMSL - above mean sea level
ANCPT - anticipate
ANLYS - analysis
AO1 - ASOS automated observation without recipitation discriminator (rain/snow)
AO2 - ASOS automated observation with precipitation discriminator (rain/snow)
AOA - at or above
AOB - at or below
AOE - airport of entry
APCH - approach
APL - airport lights
APLCN - Appalachian
APN - Apron
APRNT - apparent
APROP - appropriate
APRX - approximate
ARB - Air Reserve Base
ARFOR - area forecast
ARINC - Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated
ARND - around
ARTC - air route traffic control
ARTCC - Air Route Traffic Control Center
AS - altostratus
ASAP - as soon as possible
ASDA - accelerate-stop distance available
ASL - above sea level
ASOS - automated surface observing system
ASPH - asphalt
ATA - actual time of arrival
ATIS - automatic terminal information service
ATLC - Atlantic
AURBO - Aurora Borealis
AUTH - authorized
AUTO - automatic
AVG - average
AVGAS - aviation gasoline
AWOS - automatic weather observing/reporting system
AWY - airway
AZM - azimuth
B
BACLIN - Baroclinic
BAJA - Baja California
BATROP - Barotropic
BC - British Columbia
BCH - Beach
BCKG - Backing
BCM - Become
BCMG - Becoming
BCMS - Becomes
BD - Blowing dust
BDA - Bermuda
BDRY - Boundary
BFDK - Before dark
BFR - Before
BGN - Begin
BGNG - Beginning
BGNS - Begins
BHND - Behind
BINOVC - Breaks in overcast
BKN - Broken
BLD - Build
BLDG - Building
BLDS - Builds
BLDUP - Buildup
BLKHLS - Black Hills
BLKT - Blanket
BLKTG - Blanketing
BLKTS - Blankets
BLO - Below
BLZD - Blizzard
BN - Blowing sand
BND - Bound
BNDRY - Boundary
BNDRYS - Boundaries
BNTH - Beneath
BOOTHEEL - Bootheel
BR - Branch
BRG - Branching
BRS - Branches
BRF - Brief
BRK - Break
BRKG - Breaking
BRKHIC - Breaks in higher clouds
BRKS - Breaks
BRKSHR - Berkshire
BRKSHRS - Berkshires
BRM - Barometer
BS - Blowing snow
BTWN - Between
BYD - Beyond C
C - Celsius
CA - California
CAA - Cold Air Advection
CARIB - Caribbean
CASCDS - Cascades
CAVOK - Ceiling and visibility OK
CAVU - Ceiling and visibility unlimited
CB - Cumulonimbus
CBS - Cumulonimbi
CC - Cirrocumulus
CCLDS - Clear of clouds
CCLKWS - Counter-clockwise
CCSL - Standing lenticular cirrocumulus
CDFNT - Cold front
CDFNTL - Cold frontal
CFP - Cold front passage
CG - Cloud-to-ground
CHC - Chance
CHCS - Chances
CHG - Change
CHGD - Changed
CHGG - Changing
CHGS - Changes
CHSPK - Chesepeake
CI - Cirrus
CIG - Ceiling
CIGS - Ceilings
CLD - Cloud
CLDNS - Cloudiness
CLDS - Clouds
CLKWS - Clockwise
CLR - Clear
CLRG - Clearing
CLRS - Clears
CMPLX - Complex
CNCL - Cancel
CNCLD - Cancelled
CNCLG - Cancelling
CNCLS - Cancels
CNDN - Canadian
CNTR - Center
CNTRD - Centered
CNTRLN - Centerline
CNTRS - Centers
CNTRL - Central
CNTY - County
CNTYS - Counties
CNVG - Converge
CNVGG - Converging
CNVGNC - Convergence
CNVTN - Convection
CNVTV - Convective
CNVTVLY - Convectively
CNFDC - Confidence
CO - Colorado
COMPAR - Compare
COMPARG - Comparing
COMPARD - Compared
COMPARS - Compares
COND - Conditions
CONT - Continue
CONTD - Continued
CONTLY - Continually
CONTG - Continuing
CONTRAILS - Condensation Trails
CONTS - Continues
CONTDVD - Continental Divide
CONUS - Continental U.S.
COORD - Coordinate
COR - Correction
CPBL - Capable
CRC - Circle
CRCLC - Circulate
CRCLN - Circulation
CRNR - Corner
CRNRS- Corners
CRS- Course
CS - Cirrostratus
CSDR - Consider
CSDRBL - Considerable
CST - Coast
CSTL - Coastal
CT- Connecticut
CTGY - Category
CTSKLS - Catskills
CU - Cumulus
CUFRA - Cumulus Fractus
CVR - Cover
CVRD - Covered
CVRG - Covering
CVRS - Covers
CYC - Cyclonic
CYCLGN - Cyclogenesis D
DABRK - Daybreak
DALGT - Day light
DBL - Double
DC - District of Columbia
DCR - Decrease
DCRD - Decreased
DCRG - Decreasing
DCRGLY - Decreasingly
DCRS - Decreases
DE - Delaware
DEG - Degree
DEGS - Degrees
DELMARVA - Delaware-Maryland-Virginia
DFCLT - Difficult
DFCLTY - Difficulty
DFNT - Definite
DFNTLY - Definitely
DFRS - Differs
DFUS - Diffuse
DGNL - Diagonal
DGNLLY - Diagonally
DIGG - Digging
DIR - Direction
DISC - Discontinue
DISCD - Discontinued
DISCG - Discontinuing
DISRE - Disregard
DISRED - Disregarded
DISREG - Disregarding
DKTS - Dakotas
DLA - Delay
DLAD - Delayed
DLT - Delete
DLTD - Deleted
DLTG - Deleting
DLY - Daily
DMG - Damage
DMGD - Damaged
DMGG - Damaging
DMNT - Dominant
DMSH - Diminish
DMSHD - Diminished
DMSHG - Diminishing
DMSHS - Diminishes
DNDFTS - Downdrafts
DNS - Dense
DNSLP - Downslope
DNSTRM - Downstream
DNWND - Down wind
DP - Deep
DPND - Deepened
DPNS - Deepens
DPR - Deeper
DPNG - Deepening
DPTH - Depth
DRFT - Drift
DRFTD - Drifted
DRFTG - Drifting
DRFTS - Drifts
DRZL - Drizzle
DSCNT - Descent
DSIPT - Dissipate
DSIPTD - Dissipated
DSIPTG - Dissipating
DSIPTN - Dissipation
DSIPTS - Dissipates
DSND - Descend
DSNDG - Descending
DSNDS - Descends
DSNT - Distant
DSTBLZ - Destabilize
DSTBLZD - Destabilized
DSTBLZG - Destablizing
DSTBLZS - Destablizes
DSTBLZN - Destablization
DSTC - Distance
DTRT - Deteriorate
DTRTD - Deteriorated
DTRTG - Deteriorating
DTRTS - Deteriorates
DURG - During
DURN - Duration
DVLP - Develop
DVLPD - Developed
DVLPG - Developing
DVLPMT - Development
DVLPS - Develops
DVRG - Diverge
DVRGG - Diverging
DVRGNC - Divergence
DVRGS - Diverges
DVV - Downward vertical velocity
DWNDFTS - Downdrafts
DWPNT - Dewpoint
DWPNTS - Dewpoints
DX - Duplex
E
E - East
EBND - East bound
EFCT - Effect
ELNGT - Elongate
ELNGTD - Elongated
ELSW - Elsewhere
EMBDD - Embedded
EMERG - Emergency
ENCTR - Encounter
ENDG - Ending
ENE - East-northeast
ENELY - East-northeasterly
ENERN - East-northeastern
ENEWD - East-northeastward
ENHNC - Enhance
ENHNCD - Enhanced
ENHNCG - Enhancing
ENHNCS - Enhances
ENHNCMNT - Enhancement
ENTR - Entire
ERN - Eastern
ERY - Early
ERYR - Earlier
ESE - East-southeast
ESELY - East-southeasterly
ESERN - East-southeastern
ESEWD - East-southeastward
ESNTL - Essential
ESTAB - Establish
ESTS - Estimates
ETA - Eta model
ETC - Et cetera
ETIM - Elapsed time
EVE - Evening
EWD - Eastward
EXCLV - Exclusive
EXCLVLY - Exclusively
EXCP - Except
EXPC - Expect
EXPCD - Expected
EXPCG - Expecting
EXTD - Extend
EXTDD - Extended
EXTDG - Extending
EXTDS - Extends
EXTN - Extension
EXTRAP - Extrapolate
EXTRAPD - Extrapolated
EXTRM - Extreme
EXTRMLY - Extremely
EXTSV - Extensive F
F - Farenheit
FA - Aviation area forecast
FAH - Farenheit
FAM - Familiar
FCST - Forecast
FCSTD - Forecasted
FCSTG - Forecasting
FCSTR - Forecaster
FCSTS - Forecasts
FIG - Figure
FILG - Filling
FIRAV - First available
FL - Florida
FLG - Falling
FLRY - Flurry
FLRYS - Flurries
FLT - Flight
FLW - Follow
FLWG - Following
FM - From
FMT - Format
FNCTN - Function
FNT - Front
FNTL - Frontal
FNTS - Fronts
FNTGNS - Frontogenesis
FNTLYS - Frontolysis
FORNN - Forenoon
FPM - Feet per minute
FQT - Frequent
FQTLY - Frequently
FRM - Form
FRMG - Forming
FRMN - Formation
FROPA - Frontal passage
FROSFC - Frontal surface
FRST - Frost
FRWF - Forecast wind factor
FRZ - Freeze
FRZN - Frozen
FRZG - Freezing
FT - Feet
FT - Terminal forecast
FTHR - Further
FVRBL - Favorable
FWD - Forward
FYI - For your information G
G - Gust
GA - Georgia
GEN - General
GENLY - Generally
GEO - Geographic
| GEOREF - Geographical reference
GF - Ground fog
GICG - Glaze icing
GLFALSK - Gulf of Alaska
GLFCAL - Gulf of California
GLFMEX - Gulf of Mexico
GLFSTLAWR - Gulf of St. Lawrence
GND - Ground
GNDFG - Ground fog
GRAD - Gradient
GRDL - Gradual
GRDLY - Gradually
GRT - Great
GRTLY - Greatly
GRTR - Greater
GRTST - Greatest
GRTLKS - Great Lakes
GSTS - Gusts
GSTY - Gusty
GV - Ground visibility
H
HAZ - Hazard
HCVIS - High clouds visible
HDFRZ - Hard freeze
HDSVLY - Hudson Valley
HDWND - Head wind
HGT - Height
HI - High
HIER - Higher
HIFOR - High level forecast
HLF - Half
HLTP - Hilltop
HLSTO - Hailstones
HLYR - Haze layer aloft
HND - Hundred
HR - Hour
HRS - Hours
HRZN - Horizon
HTG - Heating
HURCN - Hurricane
HUREP - Hurricane report
HV - Have
HVY - Heavy
HVYR - Heavier
HVYST - Heaviest
HWVR - However
HWY - Highway I
IA - Iowa
IC - Ice
ICG - Icing
ICGIC - Icing in clouds
ICGIP - Icing in precipitation
ID - Idaho
IL - Illinois
IMDT - Immediate
IMDTLY - Immediately
IMPL - Impulse
IMPLS - Impulses
IMPT - Important
INCL - Include
INCLD - Included
INCLG - Including
INCLS - Includes
INCR - Increase
INCRD - Increased
INCRG - Increasing
INCRGLY - Increasingly
INCRS - Increases
INDC - Indicate
INDCD - Indicated
INDCG - Indicating
INDCS - Indicates
INDEF - Indefinite
INFO - Information
INLD - Inland
INSTBY - Instability
INTCNTL - Intercontinental
INTL - International
INTMD - Intermediate
INTMT - Intermittent
INTMTLY - Intermittently
INTR - Interior
INTRMTRGN - Intermountain region
INTS - Intense
INTSFCN - Intensification
INTSFY - Intensify
INTSFYD - Intensified
INTSFYG - Intensifying
INTSFYS - Intensifies
INTSTY - Intensity
INTVL - Interval
INVRN - Inversion
IOVC - In overcast
INVOF - In vicinity of
IP - Ice pellets
IPV - Improve
IPVG - Improving
IR - Infrared
ISOL - Isolate
ISOLD - Isolated J
JCTN - Junction
JTSTR - Jet stream K
KFRST - Killing frost
KLYR - Smoke layer aloft
KOCTY - Smoke over city
KS - Kansas
KT - Knots
KY - Kentucky L
LA - Louisiana
LABRDR - Labrador
LAT - Latitude
LCL - Local
LCLY - Locally
LCTD - Located
LCTN - Location
LCTMP - Little change in temperature
LEVEL - Level
LFM - Limited Fine Mesh Model
LFTG - Lifting
LGRNG - Long range
LGT - Light
LGTR - Lighter
LGWV - Long wave
LI - Lifted Index
LIS - Lifted indices
LK - Lake
LKS - Lakes
LKLY - Likely
LLJ - Low Level Jet
LLWS - Low Level Wind Shear
LLWAS - Low level wind shear alert system
LMTD - Limited
LMTG - Limiting
LMTS - Limits
LN - Line
LN - Lines
LO - Low
LONG - Longitude
LONGL - Longitudnal
LRG - Large
LRGLY - Largely
LRGR - Larger
LRGST - Largest
LST - Local standard time
LTD - Limited
LTG - Lightning
LTGCC - Lightning cloud-to-cloud
LTGCG - Lightning cloud-to-ground
LTGCCCG - Lightning cloud-to-cloud cloud-to-ground
LTGCW - Lightning cloud-to-water
LTGIC - Lightning in cloud
LTL - Little
LTLCG - Little change
LTR - Later
LTST - Latest
LV - Leaving
LVL - Level
LVLS - Levels
LWR - Lower
LWRD - Lowered
LWRG - Lowering
LYR - Layer
LYRD - Layered
LYRS - Layers M
MA - Massachusetts
MAN - Manitoba
MAX - Maximum
MB - Millibars
MCD - Mesoscale discussion
MD - Maryland
MDFY - Modify
MDFYD - Modified
MDFYG - Modifying
MDL - Model
MDLS - Models
MDT - Moderate
MDTLY - Moderately
ME - Maine
MED - Medium
MEGG - Merging
MESO - Mesoscale
MET - Meteorological
METRO - Metropolitan
MEX - Mexico
MHKVLY - Mohawk Valley
MI - Michigan
MID - Middle
MIDN - Midnight
MIL - Military
MIN - Minimum
MISG - Missing
MLTLVL - Melting level
MN - Minnesota
MNLND - Mainland
MNLY - Mainly
MO - Missouri
MOGR - Moderate or greater
MOV - Move
MOVD - Moved
MOVG - Moving
MOVMT - Movement
MOVS - Moves
MPH - Miles per hour
MRGL - Marginal
MRGLLY - Marginally
MRNG - Morning
MRTM - Maritime
MS - Mississippi
MSG - Message
MSL - Mean sea level
MST - Most
MSTLY - Mostly
MSTR - Moisture
MT - Montana
MTN - Mountain
MTNS - Mountains
MULT - Multiple
MULTILVL - Multi-level
MXD - Mixed N
N - North
NAB - Not above
NAT - North Atlantic
NATL - National
NAV - Navigation
NB - New Brunswick
NBND - Northbound
NBRHD - Neighborhood
NC - North Carolina
NCWX - No change in weather
ND - North Dakota
NE - Northeast
NEB - Nebraska
NEC - Necessary
NEG - Negative
NEGLY - Negatively
NELY - Northeasterly
NERN - Northeastern
NEWD - Northeastward
NEW ENG - New England
NFLD - Newfoundland
NGM - Nested Grid Model
NGT - Night
NH - New Hampshire
NIL - None
NJ - New Jersey
NL - No layers
NLT - Not later than
NLY - Northerly
NM - New Mexico
NMBR - Number
NMBRS - Numbers
NMC - National Meteorological Center
NML - Normal
NMRS - Numerous
NNE - North-northeast
NNELY - North-northeasterly
NNERN - North-northeastern
NNEWD - North-northeastward
NNW - North-northwest
NNWLY - North-northwesterly
NNWRN - North-northwestern
NNWWD - North-northwestward
NNNN - End of message
NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOPAC - Northern Pacific
NPRS - Nonpersistent
NR - Near
NRLY - Nearly
NRN - Northern
NRW - Narrow
NS - Nova Scotia
NTFY - Notify
NTFYD - Notified
NV - Nevada
NVA - Negative vorticity advection
NW - Northwest
NWD - Northward
NWLY - Northwesterly
NWRN - Northwestern
NWS - National Weather Service
NY - New York
NXT - Next O
OAT - Outside Air Temperature OBND - Outbound
OBS - Observation
OBSC - Obscure
OBSCD - Obscured
OBSCG - Obscuring
OCFNT - Occluded front
OCLD - Occlude
OCLDS - Occludes
OCLDD - Occluded
OCLDG - Occluding
OCLN - Occlusion
OCNL - Occasional
OCNLY - Occasionally
OCR - Occur
OCRD - Occurred
OCRG - Occurring
OCRS - Occurs
OFC - Office
OFP - Occluded frontal passage
OFSHR - Offshore
OH - Ohio
OK - Oklahoma
OMTNS - Over mountains
ONSHR - On shore
OR - Oregon
ORGPHC - Orographic
ORIG - Original
OSV - Ocean station vessel
OTLK - Outlook
OTP - On top
OTR - Other
OTRW - Otherwise
OUTFLO - Outflow
OVC - Overcast
OVNGT - Overnight
OVR - Over
OVRN - Overrun
OVRNG - Overrunning
OVTK - Overtake
OVTKG - Overtaking
OVTKS - Overtakes P
PA - Pennsylvania
PAC - Pacific
PBL - Planetary boundary layer
PCPN - Precipitation
PD - Period
PDS - Periods
PDMT - Predominant
PEN - Peninsula
PERM - Permanent
PGTSND - Puget Sound
PHYS - Physical
PIBAL - Pilot balloon observation
PIBALS - Pilot balloon reports
PIREP - Pilot weather report
PIREPS - Pilot weather reports
PLNS - Plains
PLS - Please
PLTO - Plateau
PM - Post meridian
PNHDL - Panhandle
POS - Positive
POSLY - Positively
PPINE - PPI no echoes
PPSN - Present position
PRBL - Probable
PRBLY - Probably
PRBLTY - Probability
PRECD - Precede
PRECDD - Preceded
PRECDG - Preceding
PRECDS - Precedes
PRES - Pressure
PRESFR - Pressure falling rapidly
PRESRR - Pressure rising rapidly
PRIM - Primary
PRIN - Principal
PRIND - Present indications are
PRJMP - Pressure jump
PROC - Procedure
PROD - Produce
PRODG - Producing
PROG - Forecast
PROGD - Forecasted
PROGS - Forecasts
PRSNT - Present
PRSNTLY - Presently
PRST - Persist
PRSTS - Persists
PRSTNC - Persistence
PRSTNT - Persistent
PRVD - Provide
PRVDD - Provided
PRVDG - Providing
PRVDS - Provides
PS - Plus
PSBL - Possible
PSBLY - Possibly
PSBLTY - Possiblity
PSG - Passage
PSN - Position
PSND - Positioned
PTCHY - Patchy
PTLY - Partly
PTNL - Potential
PTNLY - Potentially
PTNS - Portions
PUGET - Puget Sound
PVA - Positive vorticity advection
PVL - Prevail
PVLD - Prevailed
PVLG - Prevailing
PVLS - Prevails
PVLT - Prevalent
PWR - Power Q
QN - Question
QPFERD - NMC excessive rainfall discussion
QPFHSD - NMC heavy snow discussion
QPFSPD - NMC special precipitation discussion
QSTNRY - Quasistationary
QUAD - Quadrant
QUE - Quebec
R
R - Rain
RADAT - Radiosonde observation data
RAOB - Radiosonde observation
RAOBS - Radiosonde observations
RCH - Reach
RCHD - Reached
RCHG - Reaching
RCHS - Reaches
RCKY - Rocky
RCKYS - Rockies
RCMD - Recommend
RCMDD - Recommended
RCMDG - Recommending
RCMDS - Recommends
RCRD - Record
RCRDS - Records
RCV - Receive
RCVD - Received
RCVG - Receiving
RCVS - Receives
RDC - Reduce
RDGG - Ridging
RDR - Radar
RDVLP - Redevelop
RDVLPG - Redeveloping
RDVLPMT - Redevelopment
RE - Regard
RECON - Reconnaissance
REF - Reference
RES - Reserve
RGL - Regional Model
RGT - Right
RHINO - RHI not operative
RI - Rhode Island
| RLBL - Reliable
REPL - Replace
REPLD - Replaced
REPLG - Replacing
REPLS - Replaces
REQ - Request
REQS - Requests
REQSTD - Requested
RESP - Response
RESTR - Restrict
RGD - Ragged
RGLR - Regular
RGN - Region
RGNS - Regions
RH - Relative Humidity
RIOGD - Rio Grande
RLTV - Relative
RLTVLY - Relativily
RMN - Remain
RMND - Remained
RMNDR - Remainder
RMNG - Remaining
RMNS - Remains
RNFL - Rainfall
ROT - Rotate
ROTD - Rotated
ROTG - Rotating
ROTS - Rotates
RPD - Rapid
RPDLY - Rapidly
RPLC - Replace
RPLCD - Replaced
RPLCG - Replacing
RPLCS - Replaces
RPRT - Report
RPRTD - Reported
RPRTG - Reporting
RPRTS - Reports
RPT - Repeat
RPTG - Repeating
RPTS - Repeats
RQR - Require
RQRD - Required
RQRG - Requiring
RQRS - Requires
RS - Receiver station
RSG - Rising
RSN - Reason
RSNG - Reasoning
RSNS - Reasons
RSTR - Restrict
RSTRD - Restricted
RSTRG - Restricting
RSTRS - Restricts
RTRN - Return
RTRND - Returned
RTRNG - Returning
RTRNS - Returns
RUF - Rough
RUFLY - Roughly
RVS - Revise
RVSD - Revised
RVSG - Revising
RVSS - Revises
RW - Rain shower
S
S - South
SA - Surface observation
SAO - Surface observation
SAOS - Surface observations
SASK - Saskatchewan
SATFY - Satisfactory
SBND - South bound
SBSD - Subside
SBSDD - Subsided
SBSDNC - Subsidence
SBSDS - Subsides
SC - South Carolina
SCND - Second
SCNDRY - Secondary
SCSL - Standing lenticular stratocumulus
SCT - Scatter
SCTD - Scattered
SCTR - Sector
SD - South Dakota
SE - Southeast
SEC - Second
SELS - Severe Local Storms Unit
SELY - Southeasterly
SEPN - Separation
SEQ - Sequence
SERN - Southeastern
SEWD -Southeastward
SFC - Surface
SFERICS - Atmospherics
SG - Snow grains
SGFNT - Significant
SGFNTLY - Significantly
SHFT - Shift
SHFTD - Shifted
SHFTG - Shifting
SHFTS - Shifts
SHLD - Shield
SHLW - Shallow
SHRT - Short
SHRTLY - Shortly
SHRTWV - Shortwave
SHRTWVS - Shortwaves
SHUD - Should
SHWR - Shower
SHWRS - Showers
SIERNEV - Sierra Nevada
SIG - Signature
SIGMET - Significant meteorological information
SIMUL - Simultaneous
SKC - Sky clear
SKED - Schedule
SLD - Solid
SLGT - Slight
SLGTLY - Slightly
SLO - Slow
SLOLY - Slowly
SLOR - Slower
SLP - Slope
SLPG - Sloping
SLT - Sleet
SLY - Southerly
SM - Statute mile
SMK - Smoke
SML - Small
SMLR - Smaller
SMRY - Summary
SMS - Synchronus meteorological satellite
SMTH - Smooth
SMTHR - Smoother
SMTHST - Smoothest
SMTM - Sometime
SMWHT - Somewhat
SNBNK - Snow bank
SND - Sand
SNFLK - Snow flake
SNGL - Single
SNOINCR - Snow increase
SNOINCRG - Snow increasing
SNST - Sunset
SNW - Snow
SNWFL - Snowfall
SOP - Standard operating procedure
SP - Snow pellets
SPCLY - Especially
SPD - Speed
SPDS - Speeds
SPENES - Satellite precipitation estimate statement
SPKL - Sprinkle
SPKLS - Sprinkles
SPLNS - Southern Plains
SPRD - Spread
SPRDG - Spreading
SPRDS - Spreads
SPRL - Spiral
SQAL - Squall
SQLN - Squall line
SR - Sunrise
SRN - Southern
SRND - Surround
SRNDD - Surrounded
SRNDG - Surrounding
SRNDS - Surrounds
SS - Sunset
SSE - South-southeast
SSELY - South-southeasterly
SSERN - South-southeastern
SSEWD - South-southeastward
SSW - South-southwest
SSWLY - South-southwesterly
SSWRN - South-southwestern
SSWWD - South-southwestward
ST - Stratus
STAGN - Stagnation
STBL - Stable
STBLTY - Stability
STD - Standard
STDY - Steady
STFR - Stratus fractus
STFRM - Stratiform
STG - Strong
STGLY - Strongly
STGR - Stronger
STGST - Strongest
STLT - Satellite
STM - Storm
STMS - Storms
STN - Station
STNS - Stations
STNRY - Stationary
SUB - Substitute
SUBTRPCL - Subtropical
SUF - Sufficient
SUFLY - Sufficiently
SUG - Suggest
SUGG - Suggesting
SUGS - Suggests
SUP - Supply
SUPG - Supplying
SUPR - Superior
SUPS - Supplies
SUPSD - Supersede
SUPSDG - Superseding
SUPSDS - Supersedes
SVG - Serving
SVR - Severe
SVRL - Several
SW - Southwest
SWD - Southward
SWWD - Southwestward
SW- - Light snow shower
SW+ - Heavy snow shower
SWLG - Swelling
SWLY - Southwesterly
SWOMCD - SELS Mesoscale Discussion
SWRN - Southwestern
SX - Stability index
SXN - Section
SXNS - Sections
SYNOP - Synoptic
SYNS - Synopsis
SYS - System T
T - Thunder
TCNTL - Transcontinental
TCU - Towering cumulus
TDA - Today
TEMP - Temperature
THD - Thunderhead
THDR - Thunder
THK - Thick
THKNG - Thickening
THKNS - Thickness
THKR - Thicker
THKST - Thickest
THN - Thin
THNG - Thinning
THNR - Thinner
THNST - Thinnest
THR - Threshold
THRFTR - Thereafter
THRU - Through
THRUT - Throughout
THSD - Thousand
THTN - Threaten
THTND - Threatened
THTNG - Threatening
THTNS - Threatens
TIL - Until
TMPRY - Temporary
TMPRYLY - Temporarilly
TMW - Tomorrow
TN - Tennessee
TNDCY - Tendency
TNDCYS - Tendencies
TNGT - Tonight
TNTV - Tentative
TNTVLY - Tentatively
TOPS - Tops
TOVC - Top of overcast
TPG - Topping
TRBL - Trouble
TRIB - Tributary
TRKG - Tracking
TRML -Terminal
TRMT - Terminate
TRMTD - Terminated
TRMTG - Terminating
TRMTS - Terminates
TRNSP - Transport
TRNSPG - Transporting
TROF - Trough
TROFS - Troughs
TROP - Tropopause
TRPCD - Tropical continental
TRPCL - Tropical
TRRN - Terrain
TRSN - Transition
TRW - Thunderstorm
TRW+ - Thunderstorm with heavy rain shower
TSFR - Transfer
TSFRD - Transfered
TSFRG - Transfering
TSFRS - Transfers
TSHWR - Thundershower
TSHWRS - Thundershowers
TSNT - Transient
TSQLS - Thundersqualls
TSTM - Thunderstorm
TSTMS - Thunderstorms
TS - Thunderstorm with snow
TS+ - Thunderstorm with heavy snow
TSW - Thunderstorm with snow showers
TSW+ - Thunderstorm with heavy snow showers
TURBC - Turbulence
TURBT - Turbulent
TWD - Toward
TWDS - Towards
TWI - Twilight
TWRG - Towering
TX - Texas U
UDDF - Up and down drafts
UN - Unable
UNAVBL - Unavailable
UNEC - Unnecessary
UNKN - Unknown
UNL - Unlimited
UNRELBL - Unreliable
UNRSTD - Unrestricted
UNSATFY - Unsatisfactory
UNSBL - Unseasonable
UNSTBL - Unstable
UNSTDY - Unsteady
UNSTL - Unsettle
UNSTLD - Unsettled
UNUSBL - Unusable
UPDFTS - Updrafts
UPR - Upper
UPSLP - Upslope
UPSTRM - Upstream
URG - Urgent
USBL - Usable
UT - Utah
UVV - Upward vertical velocity
UVVS - Upward vertical velocities
UWNDS - Upper winds V
VA - Virginia
VARN - Variation
VCNTY - Vicinity
VCOT - VFR conditions on top
VCTR - Vector
VDUC - VAS Data Utilization Center (NSSFC)
VFY - Verify
VFYD - Verified
VFYG - Verifying
VFYS - Verifies
VLCTY - Velocity
VLCTYS - Velocities
VLNT - Violent
VLNTLY - Violently
VLY - Valley
VLYS - Valleys
VMC - Visual meteorological conditions
VOL - Volume
VORT - Vorticity
VR - Veer
VRG - Veering
VRBL - Variable
VRISL - Vancouver Island, BC
VRS - Veers
VRT MOTN - Vertical Motion
VRY - Very
VSB - Visible
VSBY - Visibility
VSBYDR - Visibility decreasing rapidly
VSBYIR - Visibility increasing rapidly
VT - Vermont
VV - Vertical velocity W
W - West
WA - Washington
WAA - Warm Air Advection
WBND - West bound
WDLY - Widely
WDSPRD - Widespread
WEA - Weather
WFO - Weather Forecast Office
WFOS - Weather Forecast Offices
WFP - Warm front passage
WI - Wisconsin
WIBIS - Will be issued
WINT - Winter
WK - Weak
WKDAY - Weekday
WKEND - Weekend
WKNG - Weakening
WKNS - Weakens
WKR - Weaker
WKST - Weakest
WKN - Weaken
WL - Will
WLY - Westerly
WND - Wind
WNDS - Winds
WNW - West-northwest
WNWLY - West-northwesterly
WNWRN - West-northwestern
WNWWD - West-northwestward
WO - Without
WPLTO - Western Plateau
WRM - Warm
WRMG - Warming
WRN - Western
WRMR - Warmer
WRMST - Warmest
WRMFNT - Warm front
WRMFNTL - Warm Frontal
WRNG - Warning
WRNGS - Warnings
WRS - Worse
WSHFT - Wind shift
WSHFTS - Wind Shifts
WSFO - Weather Service Forecast Office
WSFOS - Weather Service Forecast Offices
WSO - Weather Service Office
WSOS - Weather Service Offices
WSTCH - Wasatch Range
WSW - West-southwest
WSWLY - West-southwesterly
WSWRN - West-southwestern
WSWWD - West-southwestward
WTR - Water
WTRS - Waters
WTSPT - Waterspout
WTSPTS - Waterspouts
WUD - Would
WV - West Virginia
WVS - Waves
WW - Severe Weather Watch
WWAMKC - Status Report
WWD - Westward
WWS - Severe Weather Watches
WX - Weather
WY - Wyoming X
XCP - Except
XPC - Expect
XPCD - Expected
XPCG - Expecting
XPCS - Expects
XPLOS - Explosive
XTND - Extend
XTNDD - Extended
XTNDG - Extending
XTRM - Extreme
XTRMLY - Extremely Y
YDA - Yesterday
YKN - Yukon
YLSTN - Yellowstone Z
ZL - Freezing drizzle
ZN - Zone
ZNS - Zones
ZR - Freezing rain
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